Pokemon Go | Team GO Rocket Best Counters & Lineup

Read this Pokemon GO guide on the best counters for Team GO Rocket grunts. Including Pokemon lineup, types, battle tips, shadow Pokemon, and more!

Team GO Rocket Related Guides

GO Rocket Leaders	Best Grunt Counters
Rocket Radar Guide	-

Best Counters For Most Team GO Rocket Grunts

Best Counters & Recommended Moves

(*)Legacy move currently not learnable in-game.

Pokemon	Recommended Moves
Dialga	Dragon Breath Draco Meteor
Tyranitar	Smack Down(*) Stone Edge

How To Use Dialga

Dialga is a high-defense legendary Pokemon that can easily lessen damage received from most enemy Pokemon. It can learn Thunder as a Charge Move, allowing you to fight against both Water and Flying Pokemon.

How To Use Tyranitar

Tyranitar is also effective as its statistics don't worry too much about type matching. It's best to have a Tyranitar with its typical Rock-type moves to win easily inTeam GO Rocket grunt fights.

Best Counters Per Pokemon Type

Best Counters For Normal Type Pokemon

Grunt conversations are quoted from Trainer Tips on YT.

Pokemon Used By Grunt
Snorlax			-			-			-
Best Counters For Normal Type
Poliwrath			Machamp			Lucario			Dialga

Fighting Pokemon are your best bet when facing a Team GO Rocket grunt with Normal-type Pokemon. Use Charge Moves that don't need that much energy to use such as Glow-Up Punch.

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Best Counters For Fire Type Pokemon

Grunt conversations are quoted from Trainer Tips on YT.

Pokemon Used By Grunt
Arcanine			Magmar			Houndoom			-
Best Counters For Fire Type
Vaporeon			Tyranitar			Kyogre			Rhyperior

You can use Water Pokemon to easily take down Fire-types. You can also use Rock-type Pokemon such as Tyranitar and Rhyperior to gain an advantage over the enemy Pokemon.

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Best Counters For Water Type Pokemon

Grunt conversations are quoted from Trainer Tips on YT.

Pokemon Used By Grunt
Poliwrath			Gyarados			Politoed			-
Best Counters For Water Type
Venusaur			Exeggutor			Roseraid			Leafeon

Water Types are weak against Grass Pokemon so be sure to bring them in this battle. Use gauge techniques such as Frenzy Plant to easily take down your foes.

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Best Counters For Grass Type Pokemon

Grunt conversations are quoted from Trainer Tips on YT.

Pokemon Used By Grunt
Vileplume			Shiftry			-			-
Best Counters For Grass Type
Charizard			Flareon			Moltres			Entei

The best Pokemon to use against Grass Pokemon are Fire-types such as Charizard, Flareon, and even Moltres or Entei.

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Best Counters For Electric Type Pokemon

Grunt conversations are quoted from Trainer Tips on YT.

Pokemon Used By Grunt
Electabuzz			Ampharos			-			-
Best Counters For Electric Type
Groudon			Garchomp			Swampert			Flygon

Electric types only have one weakness - Ground Pokemon. Since it's easy to fill up your gauge quickly with the use of Mud Shot, Groudon, Garchomp, and Swampert are you best bets.

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Best Counters For Ice Type Pokemon

Grunt conversations are quoted from Trainer Tips on YT.

Pokemon Used By Grunt
Delibird			Abomasnow			-			-
Best Counters For Ice Type
Terrakion			Melmetal			Blaziken			Heatran

With Ice-type Pokemon, it's best to use Pokemon that can exploit their double weaknesses. For example, Abomasnow can be extremely weak to Blaziken's Fire/Fighting type or Heatran's Fire/Steel type.

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Best Counters For Fighting Type Pokemon

Grunt conversations are quoted from Trainer Tips on YT.

Pokemon Used By Grunt
Hitmonchan			Hitmonlee			-			-
Best Counters For Fighting Type
Mewtwo			Gardevoir			Espeon			Lugia

Psychic-type Pokemon such as Mewtwo, Gardevoir, Espeon, and even Lugia will do well against Fighting Pokemon Hitmonlee or Hitmonchan.

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Best Counters For Poison Type Pokemon

Grunt conversations are quoted from Trainer Tips on YT.

Pokemon Used By Grunt
Golbat			Muk			-			-
Best Counters For Poison Type
Mewtwo			Gardevoir			Espeon			Lugia

Psychic-type Pokemon such as Mewtwo, Gardevoir, Espeon, and even Lugia can easily defeat Poison Pokemon. Use Psychic or Psycho Boost to defeat these Pokemon.

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Best Counters For Ground Type Pokemon

Grunt conversations are quoted from Trainer Tips on YT.

Pokemon Used By Grunt
Marowak			Flygon			-			-
Best Counters For Ground Type
Venusaur			Kyogre			Mamoswine			Glaceon

Ground types are weak against Grass, Water, and Ice Pokemon. It's best to use Mamoswine and Glaceon against Flygon to exploit its double weakness to Ice.

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Best Counters For Flying Type Pokemon

Grunt conversations are quoted from Trainer Tips on YT.

Pokemon Used By Grunt
Gyarados			Dragonite			Crobat			-
Best Counters For Flying Type
Zapdos			Raikou			Tyranitar			Rhyperior

It's best to use Rock-type Pokemon against Flying-types used by the Team Rocket GO grunts. Just be careful of the other moves that Gyarados does.

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Best Counters For Psychic Type Pokemon

Grunt conversations are quoted from Trainer Tips on YT.

Pokemon Used By Grunt
Hypno			Kadabra			-			-
Best Counters For Psychic Type
Tyranitar			Weavile			Dialga			Giratina (Origin Forme)

Psychic-type Pokemon such as Drowzee or Kadabra are weak to Ghost or Dark moves. It's best to equip your Pokemon with Shadow Ball to fill up your gauge quickly.

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Best Counters For Bug Type Pokemon

Grunt conversations are quoted from Trainer Tips on YT.

Pokemon Used By Grunt
Beedrill			Scizor			-			-
Best Counters For Bug Type
Charizard			Moltres			Tyranitar			Rhyperior

Make sure to bring a Fire Pokemon when faced with Scizor as it only has one weakness - Beedrill is also weak to Fire-type moves. Rock Pokemon can also be great against Beedrill.

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Best Counters For Rock Type Pokemon

Grunt conversations are quoted from Trainer Tips on YT.

Pokemon Used By Grunt
Tyranitar			-			-			-
Best Counters For Rock Type
Machamp			Kyogre			Groudon			Dialga

Make sure to bring a Fire Pokemon when faced with Scizor as it only has one weakness - Beedrill is also weak to Fire-type moves. Rock Pokemon can also be great against Beedrill.

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Best Counters For Ghost Type Pokemon

Grunt conversations are quoted from Trainer Tips on YT.

Pokemon Used By Grunt
Banette			Dusknoir			-			-
Best Counters For Ghost Type
Giratina (Origin Forme)			Darkrai			Tyranitar			Dialga

Ghost Pokemon are weak to their fellow Ghost types. Make sure to use more powerful Pokemon that can dish out Ghost attack damage. Just be careful of Banette's Shadow Claw as this move can be very painful.

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Best Counters For Ghost Type Pokemon

Grunt conversations are quoted from Trainer Tips on YT.

Pokemon Used By Grunt
Banette			Dusknoir			-			-
Best Counters For Ghost Type
Giratina (Origin Forme)			Darkrai			Tyranitar			Dialga

Ghost Pokemon are weak to their fellow Ghost types. Make sure to use more powerful Pokemon that can dish out Ghost attack damage. Just be careful of Banette's Shadow Claw as this move can be very painful.

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Best Counters For Dragon Type Pokemon

Grunt conversations are quoted from Trainer Tips on YT.

Pokemon Used By Grunt
Gyarados			Dragonite			Flygon			-
Best Counters For Dragon Type
Tyranitar			Rhyperior			Rayquaza			Dialga

Be careful when fighting against Gyarados or Dragonite as they are tough opponents. Use Pokemon that can exploit both their weaknesses like Dialga - a Pokemon that can use both Dragon & Electric-type moves.

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Best Counters For Kanto Starter Pokemon

Grunt conversations are quoted from thesilphroad.com.

Pokemon Used By Grunt
Venusaur			Charizard			Blastoise			-

The three original Kanto starter Pokemon will also appear in Team GO Rocket grunt battles. These are Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise. It's hard to do type matching in this battle, so come prepared.

Best Counters Vs. Kanto Starter Pokemon

Enemy			Best Pokemon Counters
Venusaur			Moltres			Entei			Charizard
Charizard			Tyranitar			Golem			Rhyperior
Blastoise			Electivire			Zapdos			Roserade

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Best Counters For Snorlax, Lapras, Others

Grunt conversations are quoted from thesilphroad.com.

Determine Enemy Party First

When Team Rocket uses the previous phrases, they will either use 2 Snorlax or 2 Lapras. Their lineup will not change when you try a rematch, so try to use this to identify which Pokemon they will use.

Have Generic Purpose Team In 1st Match

You'll still be able to adjust your party even if you lose your first match. In your first battle, bring in powerful, all-purpose Pokemon such as Tyranitar or Dialga.

Enemy			Best Pokemon Counters
Poliwrath			Mewtwo			Electivire			Raikou
Gyarados			Electivire			Magnezone			Raikou
Snorlax			Machamp			Blaziken			Metagross
Lapras			Tyranitar			Electivire			Raikou
Dragonite			Mamoswine			Dialga			Tyranitar
Gardevoir			Metagross			Giratina (Origin Forme)			Dialga

▲Go Back To Pokemon Types

Team GO Rocket Grunt Battle Tips

Check Grunt Conversation To Know Pokemon Type

If you want to know the Pokemon type that the Team GO Rocket grunt will use, check the conversation line. You'll find out the type depending on the lines they use.

Don't Forget To Heal Pokemon

Make sure to heal any Pokemon that you have that isn't in full health. After every match, it's also important to heal your Pokemon so they're ready for the next battle.

Check Pokemon Storage

If your Pokemon storage is full, you won't be able to capture Team GO Rocket's shadow Pokemon. Before every battle, make sure to check if there is enough space in your inventory.

What To Do When You Can't Win

Reorganize Your Pokemon Party

If you're having trouble winning against the Team GO Rocket grunts, you might need to reorganize your party. Choose Pokemon with high CP as there are no CP limits in these battles.

Evolve And Power Up Pokemon

You can also try evolving Pokemon or powering them up using Candies & Stardust. It's best to have high level Pokemon in these battles.

Capture Pokemon From Raids

You can also capture Pokemon from raids you see in gyms around you. These are often at level 20 already, 25 if they have a weather boost, so they will be really useful in Team GO Rocket battles.

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